UV 2168/10000 The Key to Producing Lasting Results
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 15 v 16
The manger leader or manager is chosen by Jesus to be His representatives on earth. Jesus holds the “ key of David”- the key to the kingdom of God is given to those He chooses As Jesus said about the kingdom of God, “ Many are called but few are chosen.” If we choose, then we could claim the credit of being followers of Jesus. But, the fact is that we are chosen by grace, the grace of Jesus. Does it mean that the believer has no part in his being chosen? It is certainly not his good deeds or his wisdom that leads him to be chosen by Jesus. But, Jesus sees our faith, the inclination of our hearts, our orientation or the extent we desire to be part of the kingdom of God. It is His sovereign choice. Our faith enables us to recognize that we are chosen and we heed the call. Faith like reasoning, imagination, creativity is a faculty or gift- the ability to see into the unseen. Scripture says that He has compassion on whom He chooses to have compassion on, mercy on whom He chooses to have mercy on.
Regardless of our past record, our failures and misdeeds or good deeds, we are chosen. But after being chosen, we are “ ordained”. Synonyms for ordained are appointed, anointed, consecrated, installed, established or invested. After we are chosen by Jesus like the first disciples or the twelve were chosen, we are prepared or trained by the Spirit of God even as Jesus trained the twelve. We are prepared to “bring forth fruit”- or in other words to produce results. The results must be seen both in our own inner transformation as well as in the transformation of the lives of others. Even among the twelve, one namely, Judas turned against Jesus and betrayed Him at the garden of Gethsemane. It was not as if it was predetermined or that Judas was chosen in order that he betrayed Jesus. Jesus would have been identified even if Judas had not betrayed him by kissing Him. But Judas surrendered his free choice to the enemy of his soul. This implies that even after being chosen and trained or discipled by and for Jesus, we can fall away. The manger leader or manager needs to be vigilant at all times and guard his heart and his salvation.
The uni-verse states that our fruit should remain. We should leave a spiritual legacy of our faith, our words and our works. One leader who died recently in a plane crash said that “ success is not what we do when we live but what succeeds or follows us after our lives on earth.” The fruit or results of our lives should outlast it and remain to inspire faith, hope and love in others. The uni-verse ends with a promise of provision. Whatever we lack in order to produce results, the Lord will provide so that there is no ‘hamartia’ or shortcoming in our lives. Resources or its absence or shortage will never be the cause of our failure to produce results but our lack of wholehearted faith. We ask in Jesus’s name as it is not on our own merits but by grace from beginning to end that we approach the Father.
Prateep V Philip
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Friday, January 6, 2017
The Multi-Fruit Tree
UV 2167/10000 The Multi-fruit Tree
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15 v 5
As long as a person confines himself to “ I”, he can do little or nothing for whatever he does, thinks or says is in vain and will end in naught. He will be like grass that flourished today and is gone in a short while. Everything he does is in vain. He is a barren tree that cannot produce any good fruit. But, when a person re-defines himself as “ I-in-Him”, there is nothing that he cannot do for the very substance of God- Jesus dwells in and with him. Everything he does and experiences, both the good and the bad, the pleasant and the unpleasant, the easy and the difficult, is meaningful, effective and is gain. He becomes a part or branch of an oxygenal banyan tree who can set down roots, develop branches and bear much spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and humility. The sap of God's love rises from Christ-in-us to become the sap ( spiritual attitudes/ attribute of power) that turns into these fruit.
Every tree is not a fruit bearing tree. Every fruit tree does not bear fruit. Every fruit tree does not bear good fruit. Every fruit tree does not bear much good fruit. Every branch of a good fruit tree does not bear fruit equally. When a tree bears fruit and much good fruit, it fulfills the purpose for which it was planted. It satisfies the planter, the gardener, the owner. Fulfilling our individual and collective purpose makes our lives meaningful and fruitful. Jesus is a plan and a plant of the Lord to unite all believers as part of one body or tree. Without Jesus, the manger leader or manager recognizes that he can do nothing that is lasting. The happiness we seek in this world is a perishable process. We can do nothing with true love without Jesus residing in our hearts and we residing in His love. We can do nothing with true joy unless we know that He owns us, cares for us and upholds us. We cannot enjoy holistic peace or shalom. We cannot control our own impatience and will seek instant gratification of our desires and passions. Jesus counsels us through the Holy Spirit and gives us patience. He teaches us kindness and goodness. He models faithfulness to the point of death. He imparts to us the spirit of a servant or the attitude of humility. In the eternal, imperishable process of following Jesus we put to death our own ego, our own flesh and its lusts. We learn and practice self control. The essence or common thread running through all these godly character traits is wisdom- the balance of truth and reality, the balance of virtue and practicality, the balance of the requirements of spirituality with the mundane requirements of continuing to exist on earth.
The paradigm of thought of the manger leader shifts from “ I can do nothing without Christ in me” to the other side of the coin, “ I can do all things, even the difficult and impossible with Jesus in me.” A vine or a branch of tree does not connect off and on with the parent tree but continually. Likewise, we need to remain connected with Jesus all the time, night and day, through the fellowship of the Spirit, prayer, reading, studying and meditating on the Word, fellowship with other believers, worship, witnessing, working as for Christ, doing all things for the glory of God and by His grace. Life according to this uni-verse is a multi-fruit tree to produce different fruit in different months and seasons. We are both co-producers with Christ of these fruit as well as consumers.
Prateep V Philip
Thursday, January 5, 2017
The Litmus Test of Fragrance
UV 2166/10000 The Litmus Test of Fragrance
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour
Ephesians 5 v 2
Every step the manger leader or manager takes, he takes in love just as Jesus poured out His whole life on earth from beginning to end and beyond as an offering of love, an evidence of the love of the Father. When Christ dwells in our hearts by faith as King, Lord, Master, Saviour, Redeemer, Protector, Advocate, Intercessor, Helper, Wise Counsellor, Mighty God, we ought to be rooted and grounded in love. The roots as well as the soil around our faith grows best in a soul of love. The uni-verse talks about the kind of love that “bears all things, endures all things and rejoices in the truth.” The kind of love that is patient, kind, forbearing, hopeful. The kind of love that holds no bitterness that comes from a record of past wrongs and hurts.
“Love,” St Paul wrote in his famous chapter on love,” is not conceited, or proud or envious.” Love is a commitment to the well being of others and doing all one can to enhance their well being. Love is about sacrificing oneself, one’s ego, one’s time, efforts and resources to bless others as Christ sacrificed His life, once for all and made Himself a sweet smelling sacrifice to God. Love is not about self gratification but dying to oneself so that the savour or fragrance of our lives and deeds reaches the nostrils of God.
We need to constantly imitate Christ in His attitude, actions and words of love. The love of Christ is agape or in other words, His love is unconditional, unreserved and without expectations or demands on us. We should show our love without any hidden motive or agenda. The litmus test is to ask ourselves on every thought we think, every word we speak, every action we do, “ Is it pleasing and sweet smelling to God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit?” If the answer is “ No”, we should make amends and avoid that attitude or behaviour thereafter. Under the old covenant with Jehovah, the sacrifices of some people became a sweet savour to the Father. It was more the attitude of heart of the one who offered the sacrifice rather than what was sacrificed that created the fragrance. Abel’s sacrifice of a blemishless lamb was sweet smelling to God while his brother Cain’s sacrifice of sheafs of wheat was not. Many of our thoughts, words and actions set off a stench. We should be careful to avoid these. The fragrance of our thoughts, words and actions should spread like that of the perfume of Mary Magdalene as she emptied the alabaster jar of nard to anoint Jesus. She grabbed the opportunity of anointing God’s anointed one and got the recognition from Jesus as the one who prepared Him for sacrifice, as the one who had done a beautiful deed for Him that will be remembered in all generations of the faithful thereafter. We are to be both a living and a loving sacrifice to God.
Prateep V Philip
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour
Ephesians 5 v 2
Every step the manger leader or manager takes, he takes in love just as Jesus poured out His whole life on earth from beginning to end and beyond as an offering of love, an evidence of the love of the Father. When Christ dwells in our hearts by faith as King, Lord, Master, Saviour, Redeemer, Protector, Advocate, Intercessor, Helper, Wise Counsellor, Mighty God, we ought to be rooted and grounded in love. The roots as well as the soil around our faith grows best in a soul of love. The uni-verse talks about the kind of love that “bears all things, endures all things and rejoices in the truth.” The kind of love that is patient, kind, forbearing, hopeful. The kind of love that holds no bitterness that comes from a record of past wrongs and hurts.
“Love,” St Paul wrote in his famous chapter on love,” is not conceited, or proud or envious.” Love is a commitment to the well being of others and doing all one can to enhance their well being. Love is about sacrificing oneself, one’s ego, one’s time, efforts and resources to bless others as Christ sacrificed His life, once for all and made Himself a sweet smelling sacrifice to God. Love is not about self gratification but dying to oneself so that the savour or fragrance of our lives and deeds reaches the nostrils of God.
We need to constantly imitate Christ in His attitude, actions and words of love. The love of Christ is agape or in other words, His love is unconditional, unreserved and without expectations or demands on us. We should show our love without any hidden motive or agenda. The litmus test is to ask ourselves on every thought we think, every word we speak, every action we do, “ Is it pleasing and sweet smelling to God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit?” If the answer is “ No”, we should make amends and avoid that attitude or behaviour thereafter. Under the old covenant with Jehovah, the sacrifices of some people became a sweet savour to the Father. It was more the attitude of heart of the one who offered the sacrifice rather than what was sacrificed that created the fragrance. Abel’s sacrifice of a blemishless lamb was sweet smelling to God while his brother Cain’s sacrifice of sheafs of wheat was not. Many of our thoughts, words and actions set off a stench. We should be careful to avoid these. The fragrance of our thoughts, words and actions should spread like that of the perfume of Mary Magdalene as she emptied the alabaster jar of nard to anoint Jesus. She grabbed the opportunity of anointing God’s anointed one and got the recognition from Jesus as the one who prepared Him for sacrifice, as the one who had done a beautiful deed for Him that will be remembered in all generations of the faithful thereafter. We are to be both a living and a loving sacrifice to God.
Prateep V Philip
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
The Source of True Riches
UV 2165/10000 Source of True Riches
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent
Proverbs 28 v 20
Faithfulness is the source of all blessings even as faithlessness is the source of all curses. The uni-verse promises that the faithful will flourish with all manner of blessings, physical, intellectual, familial, social, financial, emotional and spiritual. Faithfulness implies that the person fears and respects the Lord God above all other persons and desires His presence and relationship more than anything else. Shalom or wholesome peace and prosperity is a balance of all the blessings that make for a life in which all blessings are enjoyed in balance and harmony. The manger leader or manager is distinguished by his faithfulness.
The eyes of the Lord are upon the faithful in every land. The faithful person tries to be perfect in all his or her ways. The manger leader or manager is gracious, compassionate and walks in integrity. He translates his wishes into prayers, his belief into principles, his principles into practices or habits, his thoughts into words and actions, his intentions into plans, his plans into reality. The Lord sees his faithfulness in all things and blesses the work of his hands and all that he sets his hand to. The manger leader or manager is full of heavenly or spiritual wisdom and conducts all his affairs with discretion. He is generous and helpful to those in need. He is not obsessed with material or financial wealth. The lines of scripture are more vital to him than any bottom line or profits in business. He knows that the best things in life do not have a price tag and cannot be bought or sold. At the same time, he is practical and wise and takes diligent steps to avoid falling into debt and to provide for his family as best he can. He is able to blend idealism and pragmatism without compromising on biblical principles.
The worldly leader or manager tries to become wealthy in a hurry. He becomes ensnared by many hidden lusts and deceit. He is more keen that his greed and not just his need is satisfied. He believes in acquiring wealth by stealth. Such haste to become wealthy by any means brings a curse upon whatever he gathers. He begins to rely on his wealth as his source of respectability, security and strength and thereby, loses his sense of fear of God and balance in his life. His heart gets pierced with many sorrows which money cannot comfort or resolve. He makes many foolish decisions that leads him into loss or folly or disaster. This is how the Lord deals with the nouveau riche. But the man who is faithful and blessed, He raises up step by step, measure by measure. Jesus said, “ He who has fear of God will be given even more but He who has no fear of God, even what he has will be taken away.” It could be taken away either during his lifetime through debacles and setbacks or at the time of death. The manger leader or manager can look forward to an extension of all his blessings in the kingdom of God in eternity as on earth. The manger leader, since his source of strength and comfort is the Lord, is neither proud of his wealth nor distressed by his lack of it. He finds his security, contentment and satisfaction in the eternal promises of the Lord. The source of true and lasting riches is Christ Himself.
Prateep V Philip
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent
Proverbs 28 v 20
Faithfulness is the source of all blessings even as faithlessness is the source of all curses. The uni-verse promises that the faithful will flourish with all manner of blessings, physical, intellectual, familial, social, financial, emotional and spiritual. Faithfulness implies that the person fears and respects the Lord God above all other persons and desires His presence and relationship more than anything else. Shalom or wholesome peace and prosperity is a balance of all the blessings that make for a life in which all blessings are enjoyed in balance and harmony. The manger leader or manager is distinguished by his faithfulness.
The eyes of the Lord are upon the faithful in every land. The faithful person tries to be perfect in all his or her ways. The manger leader or manager is gracious, compassionate and walks in integrity. He translates his wishes into prayers, his belief into principles, his principles into practices or habits, his thoughts into words and actions, his intentions into plans, his plans into reality. The Lord sees his faithfulness in all things and blesses the work of his hands and all that he sets his hand to. The manger leader or manager is full of heavenly or spiritual wisdom and conducts all his affairs with discretion. He is generous and helpful to those in need. He is not obsessed with material or financial wealth. The lines of scripture are more vital to him than any bottom line or profits in business. He knows that the best things in life do not have a price tag and cannot be bought or sold. At the same time, he is practical and wise and takes diligent steps to avoid falling into debt and to provide for his family as best he can. He is able to blend idealism and pragmatism without compromising on biblical principles.
The worldly leader or manager tries to become wealthy in a hurry. He becomes ensnared by many hidden lusts and deceit. He is more keen that his greed and not just his need is satisfied. He believes in acquiring wealth by stealth. Such haste to become wealthy by any means brings a curse upon whatever he gathers. He begins to rely on his wealth as his source of respectability, security and strength and thereby, loses his sense of fear of God and balance in his life. His heart gets pierced with many sorrows which money cannot comfort or resolve. He makes many foolish decisions that leads him into loss or folly or disaster. This is how the Lord deals with the nouveau riche. But the man who is faithful and blessed, He raises up step by step, measure by measure. Jesus said, “ He who has fear of God will be given even more but He who has no fear of God, even what he has will be taken away.” It could be taken away either during his lifetime through debacles and setbacks or at the time of death. The manger leader or manager can look forward to an extension of all his blessings in the kingdom of God in eternity as on earth. The manger leader, since his source of strength and comfort is the Lord, is neither proud of his wealth nor distressed by his lack of it. He finds his security, contentment and satisfaction in the eternal promises of the Lord. The source of true and lasting riches is Christ Himself.
Prateep V Philip
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
The Ensnaring Nets
UV 2164/10000 The Ensnaring Nets
Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Psalm 25 v 15
The manger leader or manager always focuses his attention on the Lord. He knows that He is the locus of life around which he can draw a perfect circle. Any other locus would make our lives shapeless, purposeless, meaningless. The reason the Lord is the locus is that He is the only One who cared so much for us, He sent Jesus to deliver us from all of life’s ills. He is the only One who knows our past, present and future. He is the only One who knows the future of the entire world. He is the Only One who knows our hearts thoroughly and searches it frequently.
When we lift up our hearts to the Lord, He sees the burdens that the world and the enemy of our souls have loaded on us. He sees the traps, the snares that the enemy has planned and set against us. When we lift our hearts to the powerful, rich, influential in the world, they would surely let us down. These too are in similar predicaments and are not able to discern their own fate or future. People are too busy trying to improve their net worth without realizing that they may be trapped in the very same net of their pursuits. The enemy is subtle as a bird hunter and tries to get our liberating wings of prayer and the Word caught in the loops of his net. Often, we get ensnared by our own lusts, our own attitudes, our own thoughts, words, actions and desires. But, as we lift our hearts to the Lord, He has compassion on us for we are His creatures, we are His children purchased or redeemed with the blood of His precious Son. The worldly leader or manager gets no reliable help from any other person for all are blind like him but the manger leader or manager gets the help of the Lord. Our eyes need to be completely focussed on the Lord. As Peter began to walk on the water, he took his eyes off Jesus for a split second and he was overcome by fear of drowning and began to sink. Jesus extended his hand while walking on the water and rescued Peter. Likewise, when the disciples were caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, they panicked and cried out to Jesus who was sleeping peacefully in a corner of the boat. Jesus rose and spoke to the storm, “Be calm” and the winds and the waves obeyed Him and became peaceful. Often, we are caught in a net of fears. The Lord calms our fears and sets us free.
I just saw a video of a man in a boat who sees a sea turtle desperately struggling against a portion of a net that had entangled its limbs. The man reached out to the turtle, took it in his lap, cut through the net, freed the turtle, kissed it on the nostril before releasing it back into the open sea. The enemy of our souls has a variety of devices to ensnare us. The Lord is able to deliver us from every one of these. He either cuts through the ensnaring net or He pulls us out of the net. He kisses us as a sign of His great love and then sets us free.
Prateep V Philip
Monday, January 2, 2017
Skilling Us Softly
UV 2163/10000 Skilling Us Softly
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
Exodus 31 v 3
The manger leader or manager is supernaturally gifted. In this uni-verse, God says emphatically, “ I have filled him..” The filling is not an accident or a natural event but a conscious, volitional act of God. Being invested with the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity who is sent by the Father and the Son to those who entrust their lives to Him, the manger leader or manager is filled and overshadowed by the Spirit. One such was Bezalel, the skilled craftsman who carried out the work of building the Tabernacle as per the design of God given to Moses. The name “Bezalel” means overshadowed by God. When Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, the God child Jesus was conceived in her womb. When Samson was overshadowed, he was filled with awesome physical strength. When Solomon was anointed by the Spirit, he was filled with amazing wisdom to discern good from evil, truth from untruth. Whenever a person is overshadowed by God, the Holy Spirit, he or she is transformed. They are prepared or made competent to fulfil God’s will on earth. The gifting of the Holy Spirit is versatile. Spirit-filled or overshadowed leaders are by definition versatile. They reflect and manifest the unparalleled genius of God. A relentless, persistent, enthusiastic seeking and soaking in the presence of God leads to the filling and the spiritual gifting.
Under the new covenant signed with the blood of the Lamb Jesus, the Holy Spirit imparts diverse gifts: the word of wisdom or counsel, the word of knowledge of the Word, the word of prophecy, healing, the exercise of faith in specific real life situations is itself a gift, working miracles, gift of tongues –unknown as well as heavenly. In the early church setting, the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire that rested on the gathered apostles in fulfilment of the promise of Jesus that they shall receive power from above. The appearance as tongues of fire is an indication that the mouths or communication of the manger leader or manager is most vital. No longer was the tongue to be filled with wickedness, an unruly member of the body that cannot be tamed but a rudder to give direction and balance to the ship called leadership. It was no longer the tiny spark that will set forests on fire but the source of inspiration of faith and good works in the name of Jesus. It was no longer the source of the power of life and death but of life eternal. The gifting of the anointing or filling of the Spirit of God and the consequent impartation of the super soft skills are meant for the perfection, edification, sanctification and enablement of man to fulfil the purpose of God. The Holy Spirit knows our internal wiring and inner being and does the work of building, development and maintenance from deep within our souls. Our weaknesses and blind spots are not challenges for Him but opportunities to manifest His grace and power.
The manger leader is never short of ability or competence as he believes that like St Paul, he “can do all things through Christ who strengthens him” through the overshadowing and the filling of the Holy Spirit. He is omni-competent by grace. He can be all things to all people so that he may win some for Christ and save them for eternity. A friend of mine humourously summed up the gifts as PhD or Preaching, healing and Deliverance. The gifts are to be administered and operated in close conjunction with the nine fruit of the spirit, chiefly in humility, self control, love, joy, peace, patience. A failure to do so would lead to non use, misuse, abuse, human pride, selfishness, jealousy, rivalry and such other divisive spirits, actions and attitudes. A person may not receive, exercise or manifest all the gifts of the Spirit but need to exercise and manifest increasingly all the fruit of the Spirit as adornments and clothing of character. The intuitive, problem solving and creative abilities of the manger leader are of a far higher order than can be naturally explained or understood. The manger leader or manager gives priority and precedence to consideration of character over ability for he knows that when a person is available to God, He can make him able but if he loses these spiritual qualities, he will be like salt that has lost its saltiness, that needs to be thrown on the rubbish heap and cannot be of use to the kingdom of God.
Prateep V Philip
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
Exodus 31 v 3
The manger leader or manager is supernaturally gifted. In this uni-verse, God says emphatically, “ I have filled him..” The filling is not an accident or a natural event but a conscious, volitional act of God. Being invested with the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity who is sent by the Father and the Son to those who entrust their lives to Him, the manger leader or manager is filled and overshadowed by the Spirit. One such was Bezalel, the skilled craftsman who carried out the work of building the Tabernacle as per the design of God given to Moses. The name “Bezalel” means overshadowed by God. When Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, the God child Jesus was conceived in her womb. When Samson was overshadowed, he was filled with awesome physical strength. When Solomon was anointed by the Spirit, he was filled with amazing wisdom to discern good from evil, truth from untruth. Whenever a person is overshadowed by God, the Holy Spirit, he or she is transformed. They are prepared or made competent to fulfil God’s will on earth. The gifting of the Holy Spirit is versatile. Spirit-filled or overshadowed leaders are by definition versatile. They reflect and manifest the unparalleled genius of God. A relentless, persistent, enthusiastic seeking and soaking in the presence of God leads to the filling and the spiritual gifting.
Under the new covenant signed with the blood of the Lamb Jesus, the Holy Spirit imparts diverse gifts: the word of wisdom or counsel, the word of knowledge of the Word, the word of prophecy, healing, the exercise of faith in specific real life situations is itself a gift, working miracles, gift of tongues –unknown as well as heavenly. In the early church setting, the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire that rested on the gathered apostles in fulfilment of the promise of Jesus that they shall receive power from above. The appearance as tongues of fire is an indication that the mouths or communication of the manger leader or manager is most vital. No longer was the tongue to be filled with wickedness, an unruly member of the body that cannot be tamed but a rudder to give direction and balance to the ship called leadership. It was no longer the tiny spark that will set forests on fire but the source of inspiration of faith and good works in the name of Jesus. It was no longer the source of the power of life and death but of life eternal. The gifting of the anointing or filling of the Spirit of God and the consequent impartation of the super soft skills are meant for the perfection, edification, sanctification and enablement of man to fulfil the purpose of God. The Holy Spirit knows our internal wiring and inner being and does the work of building, development and maintenance from deep within our souls. Our weaknesses and blind spots are not challenges for Him but opportunities to manifest His grace and power.
The manger leader is never short of ability or competence as he believes that like St Paul, he “can do all things through Christ who strengthens him” through the overshadowing and the filling of the Holy Spirit. He is omni-competent by grace. He can be all things to all people so that he may win some for Christ and save them for eternity. A friend of mine humourously summed up the gifts as PhD or Preaching, healing and Deliverance. The gifts are to be administered and operated in close conjunction with the nine fruit of the spirit, chiefly in humility, self control, love, joy, peace, patience. A failure to do so would lead to non use, misuse, abuse, human pride, selfishness, jealousy, rivalry and such other divisive spirits, actions and attitudes. A person may not receive, exercise or manifest all the gifts of the Spirit but need to exercise and manifest increasingly all the fruit of the Spirit as adornments and clothing of character. The intuitive, problem solving and creative abilities of the manger leader are of a far higher order than can be naturally explained or understood. The manger leader or manager gives priority and precedence to consideration of character over ability for he knows that when a person is available to God, He can make him able but if he loses these spiritual qualities, he will be like salt that has lost its saltiness, that needs to be thrown on the rubbish heap and cannot be of use to the kingdom of God.
Prateep V Philip
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Discerning the Times
UV 2162/10000 Discerning the Times
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Psalm 31 v 15
It is not for us to decide the time set for different events and milestones in our own lives, let alone in the world. It is the Lord who decides the times and seasons. It is His sovereign power and domain. Jesus had a clear sense of the timing of the Father. At times, He said, “ my hour has not yet come.” Then, when He discerned the time for His arrest, mock trial and crucifixion had come, He said, “ The hour for my departure has come.” Just before His arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “ Father, the hour is come: glorify your Son, even as your Son glorifies You.” The manger leader or manager develops this sense of divine timing- the clock and calendar according to which the Lord works in this world. He tries to synchronise his activities and mind to this clock. He develops godly patience or the patience of Jesus. He knows that there are times and seasons of great pain in life which he has to endure and that there are times of joy and pleasure in life that he can enjoy. He also knows that there are eternal and timeless pleasures in the presence of the Lord. The presence of the Lord acts as an anaesthesia or balm of Gilead to either cure the pain or help him endure it.
We need to discern the times and seasons: the time set for sowing the Word of hope, the word of gladness, the word of encouragement, the word of discipline, the word of gratitude, the word of blessing. The time set for reaping hope, gladness, encouragement, discipline, gratitude and blessing. The time set for building and the time set for breaking down. The time set for joy and the time set for repentance and godly sorrow. The time set for celebration and the time set for labour and sacrifice. The time set for receiving and the time set for giving. The prophet Elijah admonished his manager, Gehazi who went secretly to collect a reward from the Syrian general Namaan, : “ Is this the time to receive a reward?” There is a time for speaking and a time to remain silent.
There are also times in life when the manger leader or manager faces troubles and difficulties placed deliberately by those who oppose his values and beliefs. During these troubled times, the Lord promises to deliver him from the unjust and devious who are more powerful or stronger than him. He would do it sometimes by extricating him from the situation as He did in the life of St Paul or at times by turning the tables as He did in the case of Mordecai vs Haman. Mordecai took the place of honour and authority next to the king in place of Haman and Haman took the place of Mordecai in having his head place in th
e hangman’s noose that he had prepared for Mordecai. The question may arise : Did the Father save His Son from His persecutors? Behind the jesting and vacillating Pilate and the scheming Pharisees and fickle mob that bayed for Jesus’ life stood the evil one. The evil one instigated these agents to conspire to have Jesus killed unjustly. Jesus was given over for a one time separation from the Father’s presence and glory, tremendous suffering, seeming shame and great pain by His death on the cross. But the Lord delivered Jesus from death and the grave and glorified His name by His resurrection. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus delivers all mankind from the possibility of eternal death. This is the ultimate deliverance, the greatest victory any man can hope forever to be able to live in God’s glory and presence forever.
Prateep V Philip
dis
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